IconSpeaking & Workshops

Sometimes all you need to get you started are new ideas and information. By bringing expert insights and information to your team, we’ll put you on the fast-track to building strategy and tactics to meet the future.

Shift 2020: Trends in Retailing

A fascinating examination of the key trends shaping retail in the coming decade. An absolute must for the organization that wants to get out in front of these seismic shifts in consumerism, technology, economics and demographics.

Attendees will gain:

  • Knowledge of the most critical retail mega-trends on the horizon
  • A thorough understanding of what's driving these changes and why
  • A clear sense of which social, economic and technological trends represent opportunities for their business
  • Essential information on how to capitalize on these trends

The Demographic Divide

We are witness to the most significant demographic shift in history. As Baby Boomers move toward retirement and Generation Y takes the driver's seat as consumers, retailers will have to cater to two vital but very different consumer groups. The needs of these groups will have a profound influence on location, store design, products, technology, marketing and more.

Attendees will gain:

  • A thorough understanding of each generational cohort and their unique needs and preferences
  • Benchmark examples of brands that are excelling in reaching these markets
  • Concrete tactics on how to win and maintain the loyalty of these very different consumers

Dollars and Sentiments: The Rise of Social Marketing

For over a century retailers have relied on traditional media to broadcast their message. Today, all forms of conventional advertising are in a steady state of change and being challenged, augmented and even replaced by social media.

Astute retailers are using social media to connect with the consumer in a personal way that seemed unimaginable only a decade ago. This is one of the most powerful trends in our lifetime and one that every progressive retailer must be in tune with.

This fast-paced session examines social media marketing in a practical and straightforward way.

Attendees will gain:

  • A clear understanding of what social marketing is and how it differs from conventional marketing
  • Knowledge of the importance of social networks and influencers that reside within them
  • Essential information on developing a social marketing strategy
  • Clear insights on how to measure the return on investment in your social marketing program.

The Road to Remarkable

Consumers have less time and more choices. Success in retail today means being remarkable and standing out from the competition. Remarkable businesses develop a loyal following, uncontested market space and ultimately survive the test of time. The Road to Remarkable will spark your organization's imagination providing proven strategies to move your business from ordinary to extraordinary.

Attendees will gain:

  • A clear sense of why remarkable propositions are critical to success in today's highly saturated retail market
  • A view of consumer and competitive forces driving the need for unique and outstanding retail concepts
  • Concrete examples of businesses that have innovated in their category creating unique, engaging and extraordinary customer experiences
  • A systematic method of establishing uncontested market positioning in your category
  • A proven creative process aimed at discovering the remarkable spark in any business

R.I.P. Joe Average

Regardless of what you sell, the days of targeting the "average consumer" are over. Learn how demographics, economics and regionalism are turning once large and identifiable consumer segments into a myriad of sub-segments, each with different needs, tastes and preferences.

Learn what you can do to meet the needs of the new and anything-but-average consumer.

Attendees will gain:

  • A clear understanding of the powerful economic factors that are changing consumer markets and eliminating the mid-tier
  • A view of the historic demographic shifts that are taking place
  • Clear descriptions of the new "power consumers" and key insights on how to connect and sell to them

What Now? Selling to the Post Crisis Consumer

With the worst of the economic downturn behind us, the question on the minds of many is "Now what?". This high-level session will delve into the mind of the post-crisis consumer. We'll explain the thoughts and attitudes that are shaping their behavior and purchasing patterns. Most importantly, we'll share essential information that retailers can use to build sales and loyalty in a post-crisis economy.

Attendees will gain:

  • An understanding of why "frugality" is a coping strategy – not a desired state
  • Insight into why the roots of the current economic crisis actually reach back more than 40 years
  • Clear tactics and strategies to win the trust and purchasing power of consumers in the post-crisis era

It's A Wired, Wired World: The Future of Retail Technology

Today's tech savvy customer may know more about your products than your best-trained staff. Technology is changing the way consumers shop and most importantly, it's arming them with unprecedented amounts of information.

Attendees will gain:

  • A fascinating view of key technologies shaping the future of retailing and consumerism
  • Information on how retailers and consumers are using new technologies to create better retail experiences
  • A framework for deciding which are the best technologies to invest in

SheCONOMICS

We've long known that women have a strong influence on household purchase decisions. What has changed, however, is that women are now also the primary earners. Better educated than their male counterparts and holding over half of high paying jobs, women are a juggernaut that brands can no longer simply pay lip service to. SheCONOMICS provides insight into how and why this economic power shift is happening and most importantly how retailers can build genuine and valued connections to their female consumers beyond making it pink!

Attendees will gain:

  • Understanding of the trends driving the rapid ascent of women in today's workforce
  • Insight into the important and differentiated aspects of the female path to purchase
  • How and why retailers will have to adapt to capture and win her loyalty
  • Examples of companies who have not only recognized but also capitalized on this historic shift

Carrots and Sticks: Why Your Incentive Plan Might Be Killing Sales

The question all retail executives grapple with is how to inspire greater performance and productivity among their sales staff. For decades, the default system has been that of monetary rewards and incentives – "do-this-get that." However, there is increasing evidence that the traditional retail staff incentive schemes are not only outdated but may in fact induce a negative impact on performance.

Carrots and Sticks digs into the growing argument against traditional reward-based approaches to motivation and offers retailers a new and progressive approach to inspiring remarkable and sustainable employee performance.

Attendees will gain:

  • Concrete examples of why the traditional model of reward-based incentives are often flawed and inappropriate for selling environments
  • Evidence of how these plans can actually have a negative impact on employee performance
  • A framework for evaluating the sales function and the appropriate approach to performance management and incentives
  • Strategies to move beyond "if-then" types of programs and drive genuine and lasting performance improvements

Customized Workshops and Keynotes

If there is a particular subject area you are interested in let us know. We will create customized presentations to meet your needs.